Black Weight Loss Success

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Megan lost 33 pounds

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Zeta Phi Beta Soror Megan lost 33 pounds.  She is still working on her weight loss goals, but she wanted to share her progress with us.  She has worked hard and it shows.

Megan weight loss

“Greetings!!! I’d like to share my weight loss. I haven’t lost much, but I’m really proud of the weight I’ve lost. I ballooned up to 330+ pounds. I had zero energy and and I avoided people because I gained so much weight. Now, I’ve lost 33lbs.

I went to my doctor to discuss my options. Actually I wanted surgery, but she wasn’t for that. She did however suggest an appetite suppressant. This medication combined with a low carb/low calorie/ and very little alcohol lifestyle has helped me to lose the weight. I gave up fast food and I now limit my carbs. (Bread, potatoes and pasta). My meals consist mostly of fruits, veggies and lean protein. I walk at lunchtime, just 30 minutes, 5 times a week. Some days, I’ll work out 2 times a day. I still have a ways to go, but I feel a lot better.”

Instagram: @simplymegg1920

Amelia lost 54 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Amelia lost 54 pounds and transformed her body.  She shared her 5 year weight loss journey with us in great detail.  I think that a lot of sisters will be able to connect with her story.

Amelia before and after

“During my younger years, I was never really an active person and I always managed to stay slim. I ate everything and anything that I wanted. Silly of me to think that would last forever. That all changed when I got in my early 20’s. In 2009, at the age of 23 I was 205 lbs. That was biggest that I had ever been! I started to spiral into depression and I didn’t feel pretty anymore. To make things worse I went through a horrible break up and all I did was eat and sleep. I was ashamed to look at myself in the mirror because I hated the way my body looked. I knew that I wanted to change, but I just didn’t know how. I took every weight loss supplement on the market and nothing worked. I began to get frustrated.

My turning point came when one of my family members told me “You will always be big. It’s just in your genetics and that’s something you cant change”. I was angry at this point. Even though my mother was on the heavier side I refused to believe that this was my final destination.  I woke up early one morning because I couldn’t sleep. As I sat on my balcony sipping a cup of coffee, something in my head said to me “Run Amelia”. So, I ran. I was horribly out of breath and achy, but I continued to run every day. There were times when I wanted to give up, but deep down inside I truly believed that IF I was persistent something would happen. I ran and I ran.  I ran until I was 15 pounds thinner.

Eventually I stopped losing weight. I hit a plateau and running just wasn’t working anymore. I started doing some research and stumbled across an article about Clean Eating and Body Building.  It was then that I changed my eating habits…..and my life. I threw out all of the sodas and processed garbage in my kitchen and started eating more veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I also continued to do cardio and incorporated lots of weightlifting. My body began to transform right before my eyes. In a matter of 8 months, I lost 25 plus pounds.

I am currently 151 pounds. I has been 5 years and I continue to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle by boxing, weightlifting, and running. I hated looking in the mirror, now I can’t walk past ANY reflective surface without flexing LOL.

I would like to say to anyone out there that is not satisfied with their appearance that you CAN change. Anything is possible if you believe in yourself. And never let nothing or anyone tell you what you can not achieve. You can do anything that you put your mind to. Everything that you need is already inside of you. You must take the first step to change your life. It all starts with YOU.”

Instagram: @Lift_with_me1986

instagram lift_with_me1986

Lanitra lost 46 pounds

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Weight Loss Story: Lanitra lost 46 pounds.  She cites the help and support from a friend who was into fitness as a major motivational factor in her success.  Here is what she shared about how she lost the weight:

Lanitra weight loss

“My name is Lanitra Wilson and my weight loss journey began about two years ago. I have struggled for years with my weight and I could not find the motivation nor the best plan that worked for me. I truly believe that in life we meet people who will have a lasting effect on our lives. I met a good friend who was totally into fitness and who actually believed that I could loose the weight that I had been carrying for years. Just having someone believe in me and push me when I couldn’t push myself gave me the strength to start my journey. I was also motivated by the fact that I have a 16 year old daughter in which I want to be around to see become a young woman and have a family of her own.

I began working out at the gym initially up to 3 times per week then I was able to increase the number of days to 5 and I actually began enjoying it. My workout consisted of doing intervals on the treadmill and total body weight lifting. As time progressed I concentrated more on cardio and completed about 50 minutes a day and then incorporated light weights. I also began changing my eating habits by cutting out fast food and incorporating salmon, fruits, vegetables and drinking plenty of water.

I still have more pounds to shed but I wanted to share my journey with other women to let them know that they can do this. My highest weight was 271 pounds and I’m currently down to 225 pounds and counting.”

LaKita lost 69 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: LaKita lost 69 pounds.  She was inspired by the loss of her mom to commit herself to getting healthy.  Her success is a wonderful tribute to her mom.  Here is what she shared with us:

LaKita weight loss

“I was motivated to lose weight because I wanted to become healthier. My mother passed from a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 43 and her weight played a big part in her health issues. I was determined to “get right”.

My journey began on August 16, 2013 and I’ve gone from 245 pounds to 176 pounds. I used my fitness pal to track all the calories I took in. I completely changed my diet and began to eat clean in addition to working out. I cut out all fried foods , soda, salt, juice, anything white and sweets. I rarely eat out. I committed to meal planning every week so I would know exactly what I could and could not eat. Before I decided I wanted to lose weight, I researched clean eating and read stories of other women who lost weight.  I don’t have any cheat days and I lost 69 pounds in approx. five months.

In terms of exercise, I did walking intervals on the treadmill until I could run. I also do squats, leg raises and crunches. I did an hour of cardio 5-6 times a week and strength exercises 3 times a week.  On the days I can’t make it to the gym, I do the workout DVD “black girls workout too”.

The best advice I can give is to be persistent! I would also suggest setting realistic goals and have a mindset of determination.”

Instagram: @lovelakita

LaKita before and after

 

Delisa lost 32 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Delisa lost 32 pounds.  Instead of a gym membership, she joined a flag football team and a boot camp for exercise.  She changed her eating habits as well.  Find out the details of her weight loss journey:

Delisa before and afterAt my heaviest, I was 197 pounds which was in March of 2013. I then knew that I had to do something about it. I knew I was lazy but if I put myself in something fun it would help me reach my goal. I joined a flag football team! I also ate better, drank lots of water and the weight just fell off. Now, since the season is over, I knew I had to keep busy so I joined a bootcamp and I’m sticking with it! I lost my first 5 pounds in July 2013 and I am now 165 pounds as of February 2014! I have made it a lifestyle and I now try to encourage others on their weight lost journey as well on my Instagram: @iamdelisa and my Facebook page.

What I did with regard to eating: I counted calories first. I ate to live and I didn’t live to eat, which is still a challenge. A lot of salad was eaten and a lot of chicken with veggies (they were the largest amount on the plate) and little to no carbs. If I ate carbs, healthy carbs were ok like oatmeal for breakfast, fruit, whole wheat bread or sweet potatoes. I drank only water, no soda, sweet tea or juice for a long time. As far as exercise, since I was on the football team and we conditioned for the season. I did a lot of running and a lot of cardio. I hated running but I would run a lap then walk a lap. The routines and routes we did consisted of running, stopping catching the ball and running again. Basically lots and lots of cardio. I have yet to have a gym membership. I don’t use equipment, I just run or use my body weight to strength train and gain muscle. I sometimes may use a medicine ball or 8 pound weights to add something new to my workout but for the most part cardio, cardio, cardio.

I just want to share a little motivation to let you guys know that this journey is hard as hell and everyday I wake up with my challenge of food! However, I never gave up! I tried and failed many more times than I succeeded, but the fact is I never gave up! I tried diet pills, the Atkins diet and the only thing that truly worked was changing my diet and exercising! You can do it! If nobody believes in you, I do because I did it and I’m still going! I feel better about myself! I have a new found confidence that I’ve never had before! As much as sometimes I really have to drag myself to the gym, I still go! So, please don’t give up just keep going! It’s not going to be easy and it’s gonna take time but just don’t give up! #workout #healthyeatting #loveyourself #healthyandfit

Delisa weight loss story

Starting Her Journey: Nicollette lost 15 pounds

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Nicollette wrote in this month to share how she has begun her weight loss journey.  So far, she’s lost 15 pounds.

Nicollette weight loss

“Last year after my brother passed away I went into a depression & ended up gaining 30 pounds. I tried a million different short cuts and failed, but I’m thankful, because my failures taught me what works for me and what doesn’t. Last month I finally decided enough was enough after my mother-in law called me out about my weight gain at a family gathering. I was so embarrassed.  I cried, but I finally made up my mind that I was gonna get the weight off and keep it off. I haven’t reached my goal but I did lose 15 lbs in 24 days.

The 1st picture I was 232 pounds & now I’m 217 pounds. I did it through diet & exercise. I completely cut out all sugary drinks.  Now I only drink water, herbal teas and smoothies. I stopped eating meat and junk food. I cook mostly and snack on healthy foods like carrots when I’m busy. It sounds so constricting, but it’s not. I still eat some of my favorite meals, I just make healthy substitutions and try new healthy recipes. Healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up taste. I also work out (mostly strength training) with a trainer twice a week and do cardio 3 times a week. I also started juicing fruits and vegetables. I got new recipe books (amazon has some ebooks for free). I follow a lot of fitness and healthy eating pages on instagram.  I also started reading memoirs of weight loss journeys like Former Fat Girl. These little things help keep me motivated when I lose track of my goal.

I feel amazing now. I can fit my old clothes and I’m not tired all the time. I have energy and I’m so motivated & committed to my health. I feel like a new person. My advice to anyone trying to lose weight is to be dedicated! It’s hard but it’s worth it & don’t let anything bring you down. You have to want it more then you want to be comfortable. You have to make a lifestyle change! Find what works for you! There are no secrets to weight loss, just eating right and exercising. If I can do it anyone can!”
Instagram: vanityyyslave

Brandy lost 131 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Proud mom Brandy lost 131 pounds.  Exercise was key to her transformation and now she is able to be more active with her children.  Find out how she did it:

“Hello my name is Brandy Francis. I’m 34 years young and a single mother of a 2 going on 24 year old. MY Battle with weight has always been just that, a battle, but in 17 months I have lost 119 pounds. My highest tipping weight was 292 pounds and I now weigh 161 pounds.  That is a total of 131 pounds.

I have done every weight loss program and supplement, but to my surprise neither one would help me loose the weight I have currently. My employment with a warehouse is where the shedding of pounds started, it is equivalent to going to the gym 4 to 5 days a week working out and 4 to 5 hours on every part of my body. My eating habits changed because of my recent “singlehood”. I could no longer enjoy the luxury of fast foods 3 to 4 times a day. So, being in this warehouse they would only allow water on the floor which was a battle because I was addicted to Pepsi.  At first I said, “Noooo Water.” but NOW water is my best friend. I’m no longer on blood pressure meds and I’m so much more active with my 29 month old. I’m so blessed and grateful that at one of the worst times of stress in my life I didn’t revert to old habits of binge eating or feeling sorry for myself. The biggest size I put on was a 24/26 at Lane Bryant and I’m now wearing a size 10/8. I will always battle with weight, but right now I’m winning!!”

Brandy before and after Brandy weight loss

Marshea lost 81 pounds

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Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Marshea lost 81 pounds.  In the wake of a terrible relationship, she found inner strength and changed her health for the better.  Here is what she shared about how she lost the weight:

Marshea weight loss

August 2013 is when I started my weight loss journey. I was in a relationship for 5 years with “Lovely”. When we started dating I was a great size (10). It wasn’t until the end of our relationship when I became massively overweight. I was so depressed and devastated I ate myself to fatness. “Lovely” told me I was fat, ugly and that no man would ever want to be with me. “Lovely” moved back to his hometown, (charlotte, NC) and I stayed in my hometown, (L as Vegas, NV). I was so heart broken and my self-esteem was totally diminished. I began to pray and ask God to heal my heart, help me regain myself esteem, and gain motivation for the challenge I knew I would face during this time.

Let me tell you, “God is amazing!!!!”. One day I woke up and had this sudden urge to go workout. Every day I worked out. When I began I struggled. I’m actually laughing at myself now because I hated working out but, busting the pavement made me stronger and gave me so much confidence. One of the things I enjoyed most was the various people on the street who were telling me to keep up the good work. I also changed my eating habits. I did that by not eating fast food, eating fresh produce, using portion control, and eating only when I was hungry to shirk my stomach.

One thing that also assisted the weight loss was not to weigh myself. I felt it was a waste of time and my hard work would show. I knew before I started working out I was 290 lbs. I weighed myself February 11, 2014 and I’ve lost 81lbs. I’m not finished I have more to lose. “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m truly not where I was”.

Thank you for creating this page as it has encouraged me to keep up the good work. I hope my story is an inspiration to another women struggling with the issue of obesity and low self-esteem.
Sincerely,
Marshea
Instagram name: divadazzle05

Update: Nakia lost 54 pounds

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We featured Nakia in 2013 to share her weight loss story and how she lost 43 pounds.  This month, she sent in an update with photos to let us know that she’s lost MORE weight.

“Hi, my name is Nakia Davis and I wanted to update you on my progress. I submitted my original transformation July 3, 2013. As of today, I’m down 54 pounds total. I lost another 11 pounds since July. I’ve added running at least 3-4 times a week to my routine as well as Taebo and Focus T25 DVDs. I’ve now started clean eating and eliminated bread. I continue to drink only water and green tea. My goal now is not so much as weight loss (started at 220 and now at 166) but toning up my body. I would have never thought I could accomplish this in 1.5 years.  I encourage you to believe that when you make up in your mind that this is what you really want, transformation will take place!! Peace and blessings…….and it can be done!!”

Read the original post to find out more about how she lost the weight.

Nakia before and after

Brittany lost 82 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Brittany lost 82 pounds and she has kept the weight off for 2 years.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey:

“Hi There! My friend introduced me to this page and I’ve really liked the tips and the shared stories. I have a story of my own.  I’ve been struggling with my weight since I was in 2nd grade but with motivation from my mom, eating healthier and by exercising everyday (sometimes twice), I was able to lose 60 pounds in about 3 months. Unfortunately, I gained 30 lbs back, but since then I have lost a whopping 82 pounds total and have been able to keep it off for two years now.

What did you do in terms of changing your eating habits and exercise?

I started by going to the gym every day, sometimes twice a day with my mother.  She’s always been my biggest motivator. I stopped eating fast food, cut out pork and cut out beef.  I also added vegetables, that I never knew were so good, to my diet. I started drinking protein shakes and juicing fresh fruits and veggies.  I was also walking 5 miles, 5 times a week.  I’m not finished yet but I would like to be able to help motivate others in their journey to get fit and become healthier happier individuals. Here is a before and after pic.”

Instagram: @its_alwayssunny  @andshebakes13

Brittany weight loss